Polling underway for second phase of LB elections in Balochistan

PESHAWAR, December 31: Polling for the second phase of the local bodies elections in 31 districts of Balochistan and special seats is being held today.

Provincial Chief Election Commissioner Syed Sultan Bayazid told TNN that polling will be held for the slots of 612 special councillors.

Polling for the first phase of local bodies elections in Balochistan was held on December 07, 2013. However, the second phase of the polls was delayed due to some legal and constitutional hitches.

An elected councillor told TNN that the government should complete the next phase as soon as possible. He said the elected councillors should also be given powers to resolve the problems of the masses.

“People attached great hopes with us and voted for us, but we have no powers to resolve their problems. People are very disappointed with us. The government should complete the polling process as soon as possible,” he said.

The people of Balochistan are also disappointed over inordinate delay in completion of the election process.

“When we visit the elected councillors for resolution of our problems they tell us that they have no powers. I am unable to understand what kind of powers and elections are going on,” a local person said.

The councillors and other people have demanded the government to complete the election process forthwith and give powers to elected councillors.